RELATED LINKS

CHAPEL HILL -- November is the Carolina women's lacrosse team's annual community service month, and it was once again a tremendous experience for the Tar Heel team and coaches. The efforts were led by a group of upperclass players that included Zoe Skinner and Breada Farrell.

"As a senior, I've enjoyed taking on a role as a lead organizer for the
events we held this fall," Farrell explains. "We invite children and their families from the
UNC Hospitals to attend different athletic events throughout the fall free of
charge.

"Before the event, we ask teams to come hang and meet the
children so the kids can interact with the Tar Heels. There is a lot of
coordination and organizing involved but the families always have an incredible
experience--it's a lot of fun. It brings Tar Heel athletes and the
Carolina community a chance to interact and get to know the Heels."

The Tar Heel team took part in a number of community service activities this fall, including:

• A visit to the UNC Hospitals Burn Center, accompanying student-athletes from several Tar Heel teams to meet several patients, sign autographs and distribute gifts.

• Children-A-Thon at the UNC Children's Hospital, including visiting with children in the hospital to brighten their stay by talking and coloring in coloring books.

• Trips to the Pediatric Playroom at the UNC Children's Hospital, playing with patients with arts and crafts, musical instruments, doll houses, air hockey, video games and more.

• Sponsoring a local family for the holidays through the Share Your Christmas program by collecting funds to buy gifts, clothing and housewares, then wrapping the gifts and delivering them in the family's home.

• As the semester came to an end, the Tar Heels went caroling at the Children's Hospital in December, teaming up with student-athletes from other sports on campus to sing holiday favorites to patients and staff in the hospital. The team also sang carols with the football team at the Ronald McDonald House.

• Donating food left over from team fall tournaments and functions to the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, which provides lodging, meals and comfort for families that travel to Chapel Hill to use UNC Children's Hospitals services. The Tar Heels also made batches of cookies and delivered them to the house.

• Running as a team in the Eve Carson Charity Run to donate money in the name of the late UNC student body president.